There’s a lot to be said for experience. And in Washington, there’s also a lot to be said for seniority. Combine those two things with a dedicated, reasoned, rational individual like Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA-17), and you’ve got a public servant who deserves a long run in office. This year, though, he’s facing a tough reelection campaign, and as one of our longest tenured ocean champions, he needs our help.

Congressman Honda is seeking his 8th term representing California’s 17th district which includes much of Silicon Valley. And while a great deal has changed in that region over the past 14 years, there’s a lot more that hasn’t changed about the region’s Congressional representative. Honda, who has now gained a senior spot on the House Appropriations Committee and its subcommittee that oversees ocean accounts, has kept his focus squarely on promoting policies that protect our nation’s ocean resources. He has always been one of our strongest ocean champions.

Just as critically, as a former high school science teacher with three decades of experience in the classroom and in school offices, he understands that science must be the foundation of successful ocean management. His perspective will be critical as negotiations over reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act begin to heat up in earnest. Protecting the law’s science-first mandate will be fundamental to this fight. And in addition to supporting good policy, he has been willing to step up and take on Ocean Enemies when they challenge what he knows is right. He has vocally opposed amendments and proposals, including those from Ocean Enemy #1, Congressman Steve Southerland (R-FL-2) that would have stripped critical funding for ocean initiatives.

Because of his lifelong experience putting science first, and his powerful commitment to policies that support healthy oceans and coasts, Ocean Champions is proud to endorse Congressman Mike Honda for reelection in California’s 17th district.

Congressman Honda understands the relationships between the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the ways pollution and misuse of our natural resources can directly harm the health and well-being of every United States citizen. He feels an obligation to use his knowledge and position to advocate for policies that protect his constituents, all Americans, and our oceans from further harm. As the political voice for our oceans, we have an obligation to throw our support behind this 7-term ocean champion.